Someone in one of Mark's training classes asked this question:

How can I determine the path of a particular grade down the side of a slope? The slope might be the sideslope from a building or tank pad, or maybe down the sideslope of a detention basin.

Here is the Zen Dude's response:

Hey Greg!

This is a classic case of InRoads being a 'box of tools' that can solve different problems and 1) you have to know how to use the tool and 2) you have to know that the tool exists.

So, here is that little workflow that I showed one day that was solving a problem that Domenic had asked me about. It was where I created a pad, created the catch point and then used a tool to show a 2% grade down the resulting slope. I know it's sketchy but I hope it helps jog your memory (or the memory of the others that were in the class.)

Given: Pad or pond surface

Go to InRoads > Tools > Application Add-ins and toggle on the Generate Grade Contour Add-in

Once this is toggled on, you'll find the new tool under InRoads > Surface > Utilities > Generate Grade Contour

It's a pretty straight-forward tool and the 'magic' of this command is that most people don't even know that it exists.

1. Define the Surface at the top
2. Set the Slope, negative (-) creates a downward seeking element, and a positive (+) value projects the slope upwards.
3. Enter the Maximum Distance; this just determines how far the projection along the surface will go. I sometimes change this after I've executed the command when I find out that it's not large enough.
4. You can define the Direction but I often don't. This is used when you know which direction you want to start from.
5. Toggle on the Dynamics so you can see the resulting path as you hover and move your mouse over the surface. Set your MicroStation color and weight and level so that it's visible, or it's the appropriate CAD standards. This tool uses the active MicroStation symbology to draw its graphics.
6. Click Apply and you'll see that grade tracing along your surface starting wherever your mouse pointer is.
   • Snap to, or move the mouse to wherever you want the slope to start from
   • Reset to change the Maximum Distance if you need to
   • Re-Apply as needed
   • Data point to accept the solution

You will end up with a 3D graphic that traces over the surface.

This 3D graphic can then be brought into InRoads and / or be used as the basis of other further design layout work using other InRoads tools.

There is a lot more that you can do with this tool, but this is a pretty powerful use of it.

I hope this helps a little.

Civilly yours,  

-zen